[1]It’s the look in
the eyes—simple, trusting, innocent, almost pleading. The psalmist must have known it: “The eyes of
all look hopefully to you and you give them their food in due season.” (Ps
145:15) Do you know “that look”?
I recall one day when I was trimming the fat off of a
ham. I opened the back door with a plate
full of scraps. Our dog sat waiting, his
brown eyes looked hopefully at me, tail wagging. Something tasty was coming.[2]
During my diaconate formation, one of our experiences was,
as a cohort, to serve at the homeless Coalition one evening. As I stood behind the table serving the men,
occasionally our eyes would meet. It was
in their eyes that I could see their shame, their hopeful longing for the
sustenance to nourish their wearied bodies, minds, and spirit. I could also see
their gratefulness, as they received what their bodies needed. Do you know “that look”?
What about the 5,000+ hungry eyes in that deserted place in
the Gospel? Matthew begins by telling us
of Jesus’ pity for the great crowd in need of spiritual and physical healing, a
crowd that had followed him to “a deserted place.” Might they have had the same
pleading, hopeful look as Jesus looked up to heaven, said the blessing and
broke the bread? Do you know “that look”?[3]
The disciples were a bit slow to catch on. They recognized the need was great that day
and the resources at their disposal were scarce. It seemed good reasoning if the people were
just dismissed to fend for themselves, that they be sent home or back to their
towns to raid their own refrigerators.
But Jesus wouldn’t have it. He knew
“that look” and that he had the power to provide, albeit with the disciples’
help, exactly what the people needed. So, Jesus took action.
Just listen to the verbs in the story: He saw, he had
compassion; he ordered, he took, he looked, blessed, broke, and gave…. He moved toward the need of those around him
and he invited the disciples to do the same.[4]
Discipleship requires participation on our part and a
willingness for us, like Jesus, to take action.
When we do—acting with and for Christ—miraculous things are
possible. It’s up to us to recognize “that
look” and feed the needy.
This may seem like a daunting task, given the magnitude of
the need we see in our community and the world today, but the story of the
feeding of the five thousand serves as evidence that God multiples our efforts
and provides what we alone cannot. Because
God’s love is a spiritual reality.
Indeed, Paul claims that no earthly hardship will “separate us from the
love of Christ.” Paul further boldly
proclaims that nothing in heaven nor anything else in all creation, even death “will
be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” It’s with this assurance that all we can do is
be faithful with what we’ve been given and do what The Word asks, just like the
disciples on that mountainside that day.
There is an expectation that disciples, like you and me,
will recognize “that look” and will pass out the food—in word, in deed, and in
prayer—that we’ll act as Christ in the world, doing for others what Jesus has
done for us. When we do, even modestly, God
is able to multiply our efforts.
Have you seen “that look”? Have you ever had “that look”? Do
you have “that look”?
I’ve seen “that look” every time I distribute Holy
Communion. I often see your hunger as you approach the table of plenty. Just like
the men in line at the soup kitchen and the people in the Gospel, we get hungry. The sun is hot, the waiting is long and we often
feel dissatisfied. When troubles come, we often turn our eyes inward, clench
our fists and get stuck in anxiety and the worry swirling around us. For some this has even kept them from this
place of worship. Kept them from
receiving their daily bread, the Eucharist.
The Eucharist, Jesus’ flesh that "is true food and his blood true drink," the food and drink that can satisfy our deepest hungers. Come all you who hunger “Open wide your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing”. For God surely knows “that look”.
[1] New American Bible, Saint Joseph Edition. © 1986. Scriptures: Isaiah 55:1-3; Romans 8:35, 37-39;
Matthew 14:13-21.
[2] Living the Word, by John R. Barker OFM and Karla
J. Bellinger © 2019.
[3] The Word on the Street, by John W. Martens ©
2016.
[4] Naked, and You Clothed Me, Edited by Deacon Jim
Knipper © 2013. Ask
something of me and I will give it to you, by Fr. James Martin, SJ.
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